THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

169

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

expressing the support of the legislature of the state of hawaii for the development of the seawater air conditioning/ thermal energy storage System by honolulu seawater air conditioning llc FOR USE ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU.

WHEREAS, Hawaii's energy needs are more than ninety percent dependent on imported fossil fuels, the majority of which is foreign oil; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature enacted Act 77, Session Laws of Hawaii 2002, which requires state agencies to not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption levels, but also increase the State's reliance on efficient and renewable energy sources; and

WHEREAS, these statutory directives are premised upon the State's overarching policy of providing an efficient, dependable, and economical statewide energy system capable of supporting the needs of the populace; and

WHEREAS, the City and County of Honolulu as well as the federal government have also established similar energy efficiency and conservation goals; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Accounting and General Services is responsible for managing and administering a wide array of state programs and activities relating to state facilities; and

WHEREAS, the Central Services Division of the Department of Accounting and General Services plans, coordinates, organizes, directs, and controls a variety of centralized services that include the maintenance and repair of public school and other state buildings and facilities, and manages the statewide Energy Management and Conservation Program; and

WHEREAS, the Seawater Air Conditioning/Thermal Energy Storage systems use cold deep seawater, an abundant, indigenous, and renewable energy source, which provides energy savings of seventy per cent or more when compared to conventional air conditioning systems; and

WHEREAS, the Seawater Air Conditioning/Thermal Energy Storage System will not only reduce Hawaii's reliance on fossil fuels, but also minimize the use of toxic chemicals, such as refrigerants, as well as reduce potable water use by eliminating the need for cooling towers; and

WHEREAS, Market Street Energy Company LLC of St. Paul, Minnesota, which organized Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC, has more than twenty years experience in conceiving, designing, developing, financing, constructing, owning, and operating district energy systems and is therefore uniquely qualified to develop and operate such a system in Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Legislature finds that the development of the Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning project in downtown Honolulu, using the Seawater Air Conditioning/Thermal Energy Storage System in state facilities would help the State achieve its goals of increasing energy efficiency, decreasing reliance on fossil fuels, and shifting to an efficient and renewable energy source; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to assist Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC in conducting a study to determine the feasibility of implementing the Seawater Air Conditioning/Thermal Energy Storage District Cooling System for use in state facilities; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that if the results of this study demonstrate that a Seawater Air Conditioning/Thermal Energy Storage District Cooling System provides life-cycle benefits that exceed total costs, including environmental costs, the Department of Accounting and General Services is requested to recommend that this system become the preferred air conditioning system for use in state facilities located in areas where this technology is feasible and available; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Accounting and General Services is also requested to require the use of this technology in all bidding documents involving the construction or renovation of state facilities located in areas where this technology is feasible and available, as well as to provide a preference to bidders that incorporate this technology in their bidding proposals; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to members of Hawaii's congressional delegation, the Governor of the State of Hawaii, the Comptroller, the Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism, the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, and the President of Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning LLC.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Honolulu Seawater Air Conditioning and Thermal Energy Source System.